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| Actress Park So-dam in a scene from the film, "Special Delivery" / Courtesy of NEW |
By Kwak Yeon-soo
After the phenomenal success of "Parasite" (2019), Park So-dam had to shoulder the tremendous weight of expectation as an actor. However, handling the onslaught of attention and awards toughened her up mentally and allowed her to appreciate the hard work of the entire team that is needed to make a film.
"While filming and promoting 'Parasite,' I've come to realize that there are so many people involved to get the best out of a movie. There is no difference in choosing a project or approaching a character, but I'd love to star in a foreign-language movie," she said in a recent written interview with The Korea Times.
In director Park Dae-min's swift and blood-drenched film "Special Delivery," Park plays a veteran getaway driver Eun-ha, who gets caught up in a gang war while trying to protect a child.
The 30-year-old actress talked about the worries she had of having to carry the film as the female lead.
"Although it was exciting to see my face on big posters in theaters, I was scared because I'd never done anything like it. I think I felt more grateful than burdened. The director gave me an opportunity to lead an incredible action-packed movie and I didn't want to disappoint him. Actors Kim Eui-sung and Song Sae-byeok were really supportive of me. I remember on our first table reading, they each told me, 'I've got your back,' which was really sweet," she said.
In the film, Park showcases grueling action choreography and car chase scenes. For the character, she trained twice a week for three months with the martial arts director and her stunt double before filming.
"Honestly, it was a big challenge for me because I had a car accident few years ago. I mean, I can drive well enough to take my grandmother to the hospital, take my parents out to dinner and help if someone needs a lift. But there were times when I was afraid to just ride in a car. This movie helped me overcome my fears," she said.
On reuniting with child actor Jung Hyeon-jun after the two starred in "Parasite," Park said he helped in her character immersion.
"He always greeted me with his bright smile and positive energy. Shooting the underwater scene was quite challenging, but he encouraged me to come inside and stay with him. Because he was so immersed into his own character, I was able to express Eun-ha's feelings and responsibility at a deeper level," she said.
Park went on to say that she was "recovering well" from surgery after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer.
"When I found out about my health condition, I was both shocked and scared. But it gave me time to look back and take better care of myself so I can work longer and be healthier in the future. I realized that in order to do what I really love, I must stay healthy," she said.
"Special Delivery" debuted No. 1 on the local box office, attracting over 37,000 moviegoers. The film has been sold to 47 countries across the globe and will hit theaters in five Asian countries, including Mongolia, Indonesia and Taiwan.
